Remmey wins New Britain council tiebreaker

Tuesday

Nov 26, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 26, 2013 at 3:45 PM

Freda Savana @fredasavana

Tension swirled about the cramped offices of the Bucks County Board of Elections on Tuesday, as officials shook the small brown bottle that held the outcome of a tie in the race for New Britain Borough Council.

By choosing the highest number written on a pebble-like object, in this case lucky seven, Republican Margaret Remmey won another term on council.

Surrounded by her family, including her 2-month-old grandson, Luke Avery, a clearly delighted Remmey said she was relieved the long wait was over.

Remmey’s opponent, council President Robert Belchic, did not attend. A voter registrar picked his number out of the shaker. It was number two.

The newspaper was not successful in reaching Belchic, a consultant to an interior design firm.

Each of the candidates received 242 votes on election day, forcing the unusual tiebreaker.

Remmey was grateful people took the time to vote for her and said she looks forward to continuing on council.

“I want to continue to be an advocate for the borough to the best of my ability ... and be a part of shaping my community,” said Remmey, a financial registrar at Doylestown Hospital.

She credited Belchic with being a good councilman and expects he will continue to be an active part of the borough.

Remmey first was appointed to the council in 2006. She ran and was elected in 2009.

Belchic has served on council since 1992 and served as president this year.

It’s not the first time Belchic has been in a tied race. And, it’s not the first time he didn’t show up.

In the 1983 primary, he tied with Anthony Coia, who picked sweet 16 to win that runoff.